JUDGE IN DUIS RELIEVED OF DUTIES; BRADLEY RE-ENTERS ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAM.

Byline: Jesse Hiestand Daily News Staff Writer

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Robert Bradley, arrested twice in a month on suspicion of drunk driving, was abruptly relieved of his duties Tuesday and immediately re-entered an alcohol treatment program.

``Presiding Judge Charles W. Campbell Jr. has relieved Judge Robert C. Bradley of his current assignments effective immediately,'' said a statement released by courts administrator Sheila Gonzalez.

``Judge Bradley has voluntarily re-entered an Alcohol Rehabilitation Program,'' the statement continued. ``There will be no further comment from the court at this time.''

Gonzalez refused further comment. Campbell did not return phone calls.

Attorney George Eskin, who is representing Bradley in the drunk-driving cases, said he was surprised by the announcement. He had no notice of Bradley's decision to re-enter a residential program for alcohol abuse.

But Eskin said he believed it was wise for Bradley, 56, to put his treatment ahead of concerns about the DUI cases, as well as possible discipline from a state judicial board and his coming re-election bid in June.

``He's got the criminal courts, the Commission on Judicial Performance, this elections business, his work at courts, and apparently he's put those things aside and gone to a hospital,'' Eskin said. ``Sounds like a smart move to me.''

Bradley was the court's presiding judge Dec. 6, when he was arrested near his Ojai home with a blood-alcohol level of 0.21 percent - nearly three times the legal limit. He stepped down as the county's top judge and also withdrew from hearing the high-profile case of Michael Dally, accused of murder.

Bradley reportedly entered an alcohol treatment program and had been out only a few days when he was arrested Jan. 3 near Santa Paula. Officials have not released the results of blood-alcohol tests conducted at that time.

After that incident, Bradley sent an e-mail message to his colleagues in the courthouse, acknowledging that he has a problem and apologizing for any embarrassment he caused.

Both DUI cases have been referred to the state Attorney General's Office because of a conflict of interest with the county District Attorney's Office, where Bradley previously worked as a prosecutor. A decision on whether he will be charged is still a month away, officials say.

While lawyers and other judges have been supportive of Bradley, others were critical of his decision to remain on the bench while the DUI cases were pending.

Linda Oxenreider, president of the Ventura County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said she was heartened by Campbell's decision to relieve Bradley of his duties.

``Naturally, I am relieved that he is off the bench and he has decided to get treatment,'' she said. ``He definitely shouldn't be making life-altering decisions in the courtroom. He needs to take time and get himself rehabilitated.''

Public Defender Ken Clayman also speculated that Campbell might have been reacting to public criticism of Bradley, who has been a Superior Court judge since 1984.

``The court may have felt that after reading public opinion it had to do something,'' Clayman said. ``I've always known him to be a wise judge, a conscientious judge who made decisions that were well-reasoned, so it makes sense that he would tend to his problems before going back to his job.''

The state Commission on Judicial Performance, which on Friday opened an investigation into Bradley's DUI arrests, said members had not taken any action that would have pressured Ventura County officials to remove him from the bench. A spokeswoman declined further comment.